By Andyson Iji Egbodo
12th Auguust, 2022
The Paramount ruler of Idoma Kingdom, Agabaidu Odogbo Obagaji John Elaigwu made a proposal recently with the sole aim to foster robust mutual love and peace amongst his subjects and what did he do? He brilliantly thought of blending the traditional colours of the Idoma and Igede speaking components of his kingdom to one unique one to promote peace and love. That becomes enough reason for so many Idoma sons and daughters to take to the social media to drag the person and the stool of Och'Idoma with reckless abandon. In the rage of the causeless anger, they gave a very wrong impression of themselves to the entire world by calling their Paramount ruler unprintable names on social media and using most irritating adjectives to describe the man of God turned traditional ruler.
Most unfortunate!
There are channels to explore in going about such a protest. What is it that the Idoma people are rejecting? They simply do not want the existing Idoma traditional colours of black and red tampered with. In thinking that way, so many of those that don't want it blended with Igede traditional colours as proposed by His Royal Majesty share that opinion primarily for their fervent hatred for Igede people. It shows in abundance, how unfortunately the younger generation of Idoma people hate the Igede race, on the social media. They can't ever imagine themselves adorned in Igede colours. Some of them said the colors irritate them so they don't want the proposal of the king expressed.
Others are of the opinion that the already recognized colours of the black and red for Idoma people and those of Igede should remain as they have been. This class of agitators are not as wild as those of the first instance. They said Tiv, Idoma and Igede people of Benue State are uniquely identified by the colours of their traditional attires for two long already and that with the novel blend of the three to what is now known as Benue unity attire introduced and popularized by the Governor of Benue State, His Excellency, Dr. Samuel Ortom, this school of thought accepts no need for another unity colours for only Igede and Idoma people. Though, it is not yet clear how they want to register their own protest. This group has not taken to the social media yet.
The definite emergence of the use of traditional colours in the whole of Benue State could not be ascertained, history, however, showed that the traditional fabrics known as lli K'Idoma which boldly distinguishes the Idoma ethnic tribe dates back to the reign of the second Paramount ruler of the Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Agabaidu Abraham Ajene Okpabi. Though, some argued that the heritage is as old as the existence of Idoma people who are believed to be migrants from the famous Kwararafa kingdom centuries ago.
Ogodogodo Ny'Igede is the traditional fabric of the Igede people who are also migrants but from the ancestral Ora kingdom in the present day Edo State centuries ago. The fabric appears in blue, black and brilliant white colours.
Since nobody will be compelled to use it, the proposal of His Royal Majesty, Och'Idoma V to blend the two traditional colours of the distinct component ethnic nations of Idoma Kingdom to a special unity fabric to promote oneness and peace, is to this author not a harmful one. Then, why much ado about nothing. Let us heal the world full of hate with love and mutual respect for each other.
RE: IDOMA NEW COLOURS AND MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
By ONA KINGSTON
[12th August, 2022]
Let me thank the People’s President and friend Rt. Comrade Andyson Iji Egbodo for a lucid and detailed explanation of the issues surrounding the Idoma Unity Colour proposed by The Paramount ruler of Idoma Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Agabaidu Odogbo Obagaji John Elaigwu– Och’Idoma V. Let me also appreciate His Royal Majesty, for his fatherly and loving proposal that will promote love and unity among the ethnic components of his kingdom.
Let me appreciate the honesty of the enraged people and the expression of their thoughts, whether properly or improperly presented according to our norms and cultural values.
This unifying gesture is too precious for me and I would want to tread with caution as I write and comment on this and about the reactions of some ethnic chauvinists. One common ground is that His Royal Majesty, Agabaidu Odogbo Obagaji John Elaigwu have good intentions and should be celebrated for that. In the words of Comrade Andyson, ‘Let us heal the world full of hate with love and mutual respect for each other- I will join him to appeal to people with a prejudiced belief in the superiority of their tribe to have a rethink.
Oh my goodness, from the comments, there is no acceptability between the two tribes. Just like adding green and white to the Biafra flag will not make Nnamdi Kanu accept the nation Nigeria wholeheartedly, so also, the fabric will not promote unity because of ---??? Only God knows. Our unity is not directly related to fashion. After all, the clothes will not engender mutual respect and recognition as a people of one kingdom. One thing is sure; no one is superior to another when we lay aside colonial marriage and Benue kind of politics. Attire is good but political equity, and fairness is better. We, the Igede, are not emotional and perturbed because we understand the law of nature.
ENJOY THE SCREENSHOTS AND KINDLY CLOSE YOUR NOSE, AS THE ODOUR OF THE HATRED IS APPALLING. (Cannot be reproduced here)
RE: IDOMA NEW COLOURS AND MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
[13.08.2022]
Elijah Ibechi,
Kingston Ona, Sir, your perceptions of communal issues have followed a beautiful trend as I followed you over the course of time. Igede's welfare has taken a prominent seat in the heart of your mind and I must confess, but on the ongoing ragging war of verbal exchanges between Idoma youths and Igede youths following the introduction of the unity attire by his Royal Highness, Oche'Idoma, you goofed with the recent publication.
You are among the elders who told us that the man who shows a child the killer of the child 's father just when the child has learnt how to swing a sword is asking the child to take vengeance.
Igede and Idoma cannot afford to fight over Identity matter in this 21st century. Your being Idoma or Igede has not helped you or made you disadvantage in anyway, if, personally, you can stand up and be counted in the global community.
It's only for political expedience that our politicians use ethnic card to divide us in their favour. We see this division along religion too, at the national level, it is for the same reason.
I schooled in Makurdi. I had and enjoyed good relationship with Idomas at the individual capacity. The division only became a topic whenever we wanted to choose a student leader.
Personally, when I went through the comments you attached to that post, I asked myself what you were doing on that group that was created for Idomas. What you don't hear can't hurt you.
I am not Idoma and the traditional ruler cannot beat me to it, but I don't support promotion of ethnic hate between the two brother nations.
Good morning sir.
Assorted comments [13.08.22]
a. Ode Linus Macdonor
It's funny that we continuously pray for peace but don't seek peace. The mindset of a few individuals is not necessarily the mind of the people.
Going through the screenshots, you will see that from the same set of people, there's condemnation of some outbursts and hate speeches.
Kingston Ona, I don't really think this your post will enhance peace in anyway rather bad blood is being brew.
By the way the color identity is an elitist initiative and not cultural or traditional so to say. The existing colors are only worn by those who choose to wear and not by compulsion. So, the Igede people will continue to wear theirs and Idomas too while where need be the new one would be won just like Governor Ortom introduced the Benue tripod cap and it's being worn across the state.
Me I belong to the class that embrace peace and run away from trouble. So the screenshots make little or no meaning to me. These things were there and will always be there. Shalom!
b. Eworo Mikezoe
Politics should be separated from culture, the two can't be the same. Unity is fine but it takes two to walk together not one.
The voice of one American Freedom Fighter says that he believes all human beings are created equal. For a particular tribe to see himself superior to other is totally barbaric and doesn't speak well of education and civilization that we preach upandan.
Let for me, we should let the sleeping dog lie and every man to his tent oh Igede.
c. Solomon Otegwu
For me what Ochidoma has done is simply a symbol of unity. But the fact is that you cannot merge Igede culture with Idoma culture we are perfectly different from Idomas. Politically we are one but we are not the same culturally. Kudos to Och' Idoma.
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